Hitch for series-connected implements



Jan 27,1959 w. J. couLTAs f 2,870,852

' HITCH FOR SERIES-CONNECTED IMPLEMENTS Filed Aug. 9, 1957 2 Sheei-.s-Sheeil 1 FIG.

14 INVENTOR. L w. J. couLrAs Jan 27, 1959 w. J. coULTAs 2,870,852

`HITCl-I FOR SERIES-CONNECTED IMPLEMENTS I 2 Sheets-Shea?. 2

Filed Aug. 9, 1957 United States Patent HIT'CH FOR SERIES-CONNECTED `IMPLEMENTS Wilbur J. Coultas, Moline, Ill., assignor, `by mesne assign- -ments, to `Deere la Company, `incorporation of Delaware Application August 9, 1957,` Serial No.\677,315

6 Claims. (Cl. ISD-14) This invention relates to `an agricultural implement hitch and more particularlyto *a hitch -for senallyconl necting a drawn implement to a tractor-drawn implement.

` The inventionfndslparticular utility in connecting a hay conditioner to a tractor-mounted mower. The several considerationsifinvolved `include 4trailing the `conditioner in offset relationship; to the mower land driving the conditioner from the tractor power take-oil. "The latter aspect entails the inclusion fof meansr for-*adapting^ the tractor `power take-olf to drive both the mower and the conditioner. i The invention `features the provision of alnovel hitch which may be readily attached to `the mower without modifying the mower structure. Another `object of the inventionis `to provide means onithe hitch means tor adapting the tractor powertake-oftfto drive both the mower and the conditioner. `In `its `over=al1`aspectsglthe invention features the provision of'a simple and economicalv hitch,` one that is readily adaptedto mass production and one `that adapts itself tofconvenient `use in the field,` being readily `attachable-tofand removable `from the mower.

The foregoing and otherimportant` objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention willbecome apparenttasa preferred embodiment tthereof is disclosed in detail in the ensuing-specication and accompanying sheets of drawings, the several figures `of which are described immediately below.

Fig. 1 is a `plan viewof the tractor-mower-conditioner organization. p

Fig. 2`is a side elevation, `partly 'ini-section, as seen along the line 2-'2 ofQFigJ l. p i

Fig. 3 isa planview of the basichitch element by itself.

VFig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section as seen along the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

' Fig. 5 is a section as seen along the -"line 5`5 of FigfB. p Fig. 6is a similar sectionas seen alongithe iline`66 of Fig. 3.

4AThe tractor-mower-conditionerorganization is `chosen as representative of 'a tractor-mounted `or `tractor-drawn implement to lwhich a secondimplement is serially connected.

The basic part of the tractor .is show n'asl including-a main body 10` carrie`d^on` right and l'efthand" traction wheels 12 and 14 and having a rearwardly extending,`cen trallylocatedpower take-olf shaft 16. The rear portion ofthe body,\as is typical of `agricultural tracts in general, adords apair of attaching points or pivots at18 and'Zt), and these pivots support laterally spaced apart trailing draft links 22 and 24. :These links,ftogether with a `top link 26, establish a three-linkhitch system for connecting vari-ous typesofimplements to the tractor. v

In' the particular instance illustrated, a.mower,`desig nated in its entirety by 'the-numeral` 28, represents a tractor-mounted implementhaving a main frame including a right and left hand fore-and-aft extending supporting members 32 and 34 respectively connected-many suitable iii 2,870,852 Patented Jan. 27, ,1959

ice

Yfashion to the 'draft links `22 and 24. Typical of the means by which the frame 30 is connected to the 1draft linkage are rear connectors 36 and 38 and frontconnectors 40 and 42. Associated with Vthe frame 30 isa secondary frame includingla centrally located housing 44having a central connection 44a to the top link 26 and'also having right and i left hand fore-and-aft extending supporting members 46 and 43. These areipivotally connected `to forward portionsu of thel side supportingmembers`32 and 34at pivot points v50 and 52. The' housing 44 includes Vmeans 54 pivo'tally supporting a laterally extending `drag bar 56 for the mower 28, arid at its outer or right hand end the drag bar 456 `has a mower shoe of conventional construction, at 58, from which a cutter bar `ttiextends rightwardly. As isjtypical of mowers in general, `thepivot means" 54 affords `a pivot point about which the cutter bar can swing rearwardly when itencountersan obstruction. The normal operating position oi the cutter bar,vas shown, `is maintained by a releasable coupling 62. Lift linkage for raising `and lowering the cutter bar is designated generally at64 and this is `powered from a tractor-mounted rockshaft 66 through conventional liftlinkage `68.

AThe constructionthusfar may betaken'as representative of mowers `in general; even though theiparticular type of mower shown is of special construction.` Nevertheless,so tartas concerns the inventive hitch, the fore-aiid-aftf supportingmembers '46-andf43 establish means whereby the hitch may be connected to the mower and lmayatord means-tor `connecting a hay conditioner-:designated in its entirety by-thenumeralrti. A conditioner 1of the characteriillustrated forms thelsubject matter of `U.` `S.' Patent 217115622 yto Cunningham, but theffdetails'are not material.

The conditioner` `illustrated comprises `a transversely elongated mainlframe `72fcarried on right andlleft hand wheels'74 and Zoiand havinga forwardly extending draft tongue 78. .Aswill be clearfromthe Cunninghamfpatent, thesconditioner includes a pair of `rollsthnough-whichithe previously Vharvested swath passes for treatment to facilitate. curing. The conditioner rolls i areldriven by a -driv able part 180, herein `represented by an input shaft .-which ultimately is `driven from the poweritake-oiishaft-` 16.

The cutting mechanism fof the fmower is drivenrfrom means in the mower housing 44 via an `input-shafti82 which isv drivenV romithe `tractor 1power--takeof`fl i16iby alpropeller` shaft 84. In order that the `input shaft ofthe lhay conditioner :may be `driven from 4the `tractor power take-'ott` shattgthemower input shaft 82 is equipped with `a. drive lmember tinithe" form `of 1 a-.sprocket 86.

The `basic hitch for lthelconnectionzof` the-hay conditioner` to thetmower comprisesa hitch element'ISSandia trailing `intervening `hitchwporltion 9i) which -aifords on the element 188 means foreecting a` `towing connection to the second implementas represented byithe conditioner 70. The means9 comprises a fore-and-att trailing hitch bar 92 having4 its rear.I end supported `by a caster wheel 94Land furtherlhaving at`its rear end a clevis`96 `tor connection to `thedraft` tongue 78tof the hay conditioner. A? forwardly diverging brace `barf98 `provides allsecond member connected `to :the ihitchlelement 8S.

Thehitchelement comprises a transverse angle'bar 100 having top and front faces 102 and `1114 respectively, and thisbar is of sufficient length to span the mower bracket as .by aipairl of bolts 114. `Thebracketf1%10 3 is of inverted L-shape and is rigidly'secured to the bar 100, as by being welded theretofat 116. As best shown in Fig. 4, the hitch element is mounted on the bars 46 and 48 with the attachment means 106 and 108 embracing and detachably secured respectively to the bars 46 and 48.y The left hand attachmentl means 108, like the right hand means 106, is similarly constructed, having a portion or bracket V118 welded to the front face 104 of the hitch bar 100 at 120 and rising therefrom and bent forwardly to cooperate with an inverted U-shaped cap 122 which is removably securedV tofthe bracket 118 by a pair of bolts 124. Lateral stability of the brackets 110 and 118 is improved by the intervention of lateral members 126 and 128 respectively. These members are preferably welded at 130 and 132 respectively to the tops of the brackets 110 and 118. The shape of the bar 100 Yis such as to dispose its left hand portion at a level lower than that of its right hand portion, and for this reason the height of the bracket 118 exceeds that of the bracket 110. Nevertheless, the two attachment means 106 and 108 are at the same level for respectively embracing the mower supporting bars 46 and 48. When the hitch element or structure 88 is mounted on the bars 46 and 48, which is accomplished by removing at least one of the cap .screwsl 114 and 124 and replacing them, forward displacement of the element 88 relative to the mower is prevented by the use of means in the form of right and left hand set screws 134 and 136 received respectively in the caps V112 and 122. Since the bars 46 and 48 diverge rearwardly, the tightened set screws prevent binding of the element 88 on the bars because of draft forces applied thereto. Y

The hitch and brace bars of the intermediate hitch means 90 are pivotally connected to thehitch element 88 by means to be presently described. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the opposite end portions of the bar 100 project respectively outwardly of the mower supporting bars 46 and 48 andthe left hand projecting portion includes means in the form of a rearwardly extending horizontal plate 140 which supports a journal box or bearing 142 in which a short shaft 144 is journaled.V The forward end of the shaft projects ahead of the bearing 142 and has a sprocket 146 keyed thereto. This sprocket is connectible by drive means including a chain 148 to the mower input sprocket 86. The rear end of the shaft 144 is connected by a universal joint 1750 to the forward end of a rearwardly extending'propeller shaft Y152 which is connected at its rear end by a universally jointed coupling connection 154 to an input propeller shaft 156 which is in turn connected to the hay conditioner input shaft 80. The rear end of the shaft Y A152 is'journaled in and supported by a bracket 158 at the rear end portion of the hitch bar 92. The universal joint connection at 150 is separable so that the hay conditioner may be disconnected from the hitch element 88 at right and left hand attaching means 160 and 162. These are designated generally in Fig. l but are shown and described in detail relative to Fig. 3.

The right hand means 160 includes a pair of members 164 welded at 166 to a right hand endv portion 168 of the transverse hitch bar 100 and connected by a removablepin 170 to the front end of the intermediate hitch brace bar 98. The bearing mounting plate 140 at the left hand end 140 of the hitch bar 100 is welded at 172 to the bar 100 and has a pair of rearward extension ears 174 which are pivotally connected by bolts 176 to a pair and conditioner may occur at several points. For example, the conditioner may be disconnected from the intermediate hitch 90 at the clevis 96, the shaft 154 including a telescopic connection permitting separation thereof as is customary. The intermediate hitch itself may be left with the conditioner and disconnected from the hitch element 88 at 170 and 176. Or the entire hitch structure, including the element 88 may be removed from the mower supporting bars 46 and 48 by separating the attachment means 106-and 108, at which time the drive chain 148 between the sprockets 86 and 146 is removed. The foregoing establishes the simplicity and ease of hanf dling of the inventive structure. The element itself comprises relatively few parts and welded construction achieves both simplicity and strength. The mounting of the shaft 144 on the hitch bar 100 makes this a part of the hitch and separates it from the tractor and mower. The only modification of the mower that Visrrequired is `the mounting of the sprocket 86 on the mower input shaft 82. Y Features not categorically enumerated will undoubt edly occur to those versed in the art, as will modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment dis-V closed, all of which may be achieved without departur from the invention. Y

What is claimed is: l 1. For a tractor-mounted implement having a pair of fore-and-aft supporting members and a drive member rotatable on a fore-and-aft axis and driven by the tractor: a hitch for connecting to the implement in trailing relation `thereto a Vsecond implement having a drivablepart, comprising a transversely disposed hitch element adapted to span the supporting members; a pair of laterally spaced 'apart attachment means on said element forsdetachable connection respectively to the support members; a driven member journaled on the hitch element on a fore-andaft axis `and adapted to be driven by said drive member, said driven member having an output portion for driving the drivablepart of the second implement; and means on the hitch element for effecting a towing connection to the second implement. Y

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: each lattachment means comprises a portion on the hitch element in engagement with the respective supporting member and la U-shaped memberembracing said respective supporting member and detachably connected to said element portion.

V3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the hitch element includes a transverse bar of angular seetion presenting a transverse upright face; and each at- Vtachment means includes a bracket rigidlyV secured to said face` in vertical alinement with the respective supporting member, and a cooperative hook member connected to said bracket and hooking over said respective supporting member.

4. The *invention defined in claim 3, in which: said bar includes a horizontal transverse ledge; and a bearing is carried on said ledge land journals the driven member.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: the means for effecting a towing connection to the second implement includes a pivot on a transverse axis, and the output portion of the driven member is proximate to said pivot.

6. ForV a tractor-mountedimplement having a pair of fore-and-aft supporting members and a drive memberrotatable on a foreand-aft axis and driven by the tractor: a hitch Vfor connecting to the implement in trailing relation thereto a second implement having a drivable Vpart, comprising a transversely disposed hitchelement adapted to span the supporting members and having opposite end portions; a pair of laterally spaced apart attachment means on said element for detachable connection respectively to the support members; a support plate rigid on one end portion ofV said element and exf tending rearwardly .therefromtariven.member iourf naled on the plate on a fore-and-aft axis and adapted to be driven by said drive member, said driven member having an output portion for driving the drivable part of the second implement; and laterally spaced apart hitch connections for the second implement, one hitch connection being mounted on said plate and the other at the opposite end portion of said element.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

